IC CONTACT | Mask or Menace

[animated]

"Hey, you've reached Charlie Maxwell. Leave me a message. Or just text me. I might get back to you faster that way."

Comments

[stealwithit]

[ She laughs. ] I thought something like that might be the case--I just wanted to make sure.

I bet you were the cutest five-year-old ever.

[animated]

You already got to see me as a ten-year-old. I wasn't much different at five, just smaller.

[stealwithit]

So, that means I'm right, then.

[ a small pause. ]

Hey, Charlie?

[animated]

[ he quirks a brow at her ] Yes?

[stealwithit]

[ is she going for a hug? Yeah, she's gonna go for another hug. ]

Thanks, for this. Listening and all. I... Really appreciate it.

[ what is having friendship feels, really. ]

[animated]

[ Aw. Well, he most certainly hugs her back. ]

Any time. And I mean it.

If you need someone to talk to at three in the morning, don't even hesitate. Just give me a call.

[stealwithit]

You're going to regret that open offer, you know. I'm as much of a night owl as anyone could possibly get to be.

[animated]

Oh nooo, a phone call from my best friend in the middle of the night. What a truly terrible fate. [ the sarcasm there is practically tangible ]

But speaking of, you really should be getting more rest.

[stealwithit]

Cruel, really, and you deserve better. [ Still, she smiles, then looks away, glancing around at his room. ]

Maybe you can lend me a book to read as a bedtime story. Have I mentioned how much I love books? And how much I love that you apparently love them too?

[animated]

I own a bookstore back in my world. Have I not mentioned that?

[stealwithit]

Have you? [ She hums. ] Either way, books.

[animated]

I dunno. I forget what I've told to who sometimes, what with all the new people around.

Anything in particular you like to read?

[stealwithit]

I can see how that might happen.

I love the classics. And romances, mysteries, thrillers... That kind of thing.

[animated]

What qualifies as a "classic" to someone from the future?

[stealwithit]

A lot of the same things, actually. The truly timeless classics, plus a few more here and there from this century.

[animated]

Ah. I guess classics will still be classics, regardless of century.

Hmm. I think I've got mostly newer stuff around, but I'm sure I can find something you'll like.

[stealwithit]

I trust your excellent taste in pretty much everything, Charlie. I'm sure I'll like whatever you recommend.

[animated]

[ He gets up, moving around the room to shuffle through his various piles of books ]

If you want to cry your eyes out, I've got The Fault in Our Stars. I've also got Gone Girl, that's a mystery-thriller kind of a thing.

[stealwithit]

I mean, I could go with both. But I like that you're encouraging me to cry my eyes out when I literally just did that.

[animated]

Hah. True. Maybe we should hold off on the trauma.

[ And more shuffling through piles, eventually he comes up with another book and hands it to her. ] Read the back of that one. Tell me if I'm getting warmer.

[stealwithit]

[ She smiles up at him as he hands her the book, and gives the front of it a quick glance. ]

The Shadow of the Wind. Well, the title sounds promising.

[ And then she sets to reading the synopsis on the back, and her brow raises as she progresses through the text, until she finds herself reading the tail end of it aloud. ]

"...epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love." Forget warmer, Charlie. I'd say you just got very hot.

[ ~ d o u b l e e n t e n d r e ~ ]

[animated]

Only just? Darn, and I've been trying so hard for so long.

[ he smirks, and moves to plop back down on the bed ] Well, if you like it, it's part of a series, so let me know.

[stealwithit]

You're not trying for me, Charlie, and I won't fall to your charms.

[ She chuckles as he takes his place back on the bed, shaking her head. ] I'll like it. And I'm sure people would agree that reading this would be--[ she clears her throat ] A better use of my free time. Better than the alternative.

[animated]

[ he frowns a little, gaze turning sympathetic ]

I'm not gonna ask you to just stop cold turkey, but maybe try to spend more time in the present.

[stealwithit]

Yeah, I know.

[ A little sigh, here. ]

It's just... I never really saw the point before, Charlie. I didn't have much longer left to live, anyway, I thought.